Chapter 83

"Hey bro!" Vivek greeted Arnav, punching him lightly on his shoulder, as Arnav lifted his hand up awkwardly acknowledging him, having never had been good with all the greetings and stuff, receiving a cheeky grin from Vivek, at which he rolled his eyes as always.

Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for.
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for

"Sup punchy? High much?" She asked sarcastically, punching him on his shoulder, slightly irked by all the bro-mance between Arnav-Vivek though to an outsider it would be like Arnav was as detached and ignorant of Vivek as the gardener is of the wild bushes , but she knew both of them so well this was as far as bro mance could go between Arnav and anyone.

"Punchy eh? So I have transcended from the punching bag nick name to punchy? Like Nick to Nikki?" Vivek asked her teasingly, receiving another punch and a slight shove from her directly on his chest, Vivek guffawing as she did so, as she rolled her eyes at him earning another laughter session from Vivek. Arnav squinted at the two of them trying to put two and two together.

"You picked up some great eye rolling skills from Arnav boy here" Vivek remarked still laughing, getting a deadly glare from Arnav, doubled with that of Khushis who gave him the I will get back at you' look.

"So Nikhil is Nick/Nikki" Arnav asked finally in an uncomfortable tone, starting off another laughter session fron Viveks side, while Khushi went scarlet partly from embarrassment partly at good natured anger for Vivek to let out their internal joke like that in front of Arnav who had less than any nice feelings for Nikhil.

"No. Its none of that. Its just Nikhil. N-I-K-H-I-L. Excuse Vivek he dropped his marbles off somewhere or..(looking at Vivek inquisitively) with someone?" She said adamantly, having Arnav clench his jaw at the way she was defending Nikhils' identity to him, reminding him again of what Nikhil told him earlier. Think about what I said. He had said so. Maybe he would pay a visit to Nikhil after all. Khushi in the meanwhile was looking at Vivek questioningly a slight flush creeping up on Viveks face.

"Well I had to tell you something. That's why I had to interrupt your personal time. (Looking at Arnav) Sorry man" Vivek divulged his real reason to be here, throwing an apologetic look at Arnav who just shrugged asking him ever so covertly if he was going to tell her what he thought he was going to tell her. Vivek shook his head ever so slightly, making Arnav sigh in disappointment, the secret issue creeping back in Khushi's mind darkening her mood just a tad bit. Noticing that, Arnav scanned his brain for some plausible reason to move away.

"Well I was about to leave anyway, my cars here, and I have to find my crazy siblings as well" He excused himself rather awkwardly, as Khushi and Vivek both nodded silently at him, avoiding to make him feel anymore uncomfortable than he already did having to back away like that.

"Your crazy siblings are here, Chotte!" Aakash and Anjali shouted from the left hand side, rushing towards the three of them, both taking Khushi into a warm bear hug, making her evidently delighted and pleased about it. She had missed this bonding so much, she realized with a start, finally coming into terms with the fact that the last few weeks had indeed been such a blur, and her edgy relationship with Vivek and Arnav had taken a toll on every other relationship of hers that she valued.

You know it's true:
Everything I do, I do it for you.

"Your colors back Khushi" Anjali observed happily, Aakash by her side nodding with brotherly affection and Khushi flushed slightly embarrassed by all the love that was being showered on her.

"See the thing is Khushi, Anji has serious eye defect, hence her dating Shyam (Anjali shoves an angry elbow right into his ribs, Khushi giggles, Aakash grimaces animatedly in pain) and you know she has been wondering if she should lend you some more of her shit expensive blush-on boxes because you look white all the time. (Anjali gives him the I will stab you to death' glare). *pause* On a serious note though, its good to see you happy again. Does our nit wit of a brother deserve any credit for it?" Aakash asked her more soberly, blankly ignoring the annoyed look that Arnav was constantly shooting at him, Vivek by his side looking at Arnav speculatively as well, pleased with Aakash to raise the question he had been wanting to ask ever since he had been subjected to Khushi's uplifted mood.

"Well he has been enlightening me in some very innovative ways all day." Khushi said cryptically, giving Arnav an appreciative, grateful side long look and he just nodded the ghost of a smile touching his lips which was permenantly subdued as Aakash and Anjali gave him congratulatory pats on his arms making him deliver his signature rolling eyes' gesture at them again, sending them guffawing about his supposed modesty'.

"Don't you two have SuperNatural repeats to watch?" Arnav asked annoyed, clearly out of his element by all the emotion he was being subjected to right now, Khushi and Vivek by his side laughing privately at his predicament while Anjali and Akaash did it more publicly.

"God yes! Thankyou for reminding Chotte! We need to hurry!" Anjali said, Arnavs distraction technique working effectively, as she worried about missing her favorite cable tv network show, taking both of Arnav and Aakashs hand and dragging them behind her, saying a quick goodbye to Khushi and Vivek who were enjoying the crazy sibling banter in front of them.

"What The! Di! Let go off my hand..(looking at Khushi who was smiling at him amused) go along I will be back" Arnav told her vexed, thankfully Anjalis grip on his hand loosening as she beckoned him to hurry up still pulling Aakashs hand, dragging him away furiously to the car.

"You might as well pick me up since you are in such a hurry to see your beloved Sam and Dean" Aakash told her, slowing his pace intentionally acting like his legs really very incapable of moving.

"Stop acting like dead weight God damnnit or I'll get all of those girls to help me pick you up and drag you to the car! Good luck explaining that to Payal then!" She warned him threateningly pointing with her eyes at the group of girls that were staring at both of them, mainly at him, feeding on the sight of him adorably, Aakash giving Anjali a furitive glance and composed his posture again, trying to be cooperative knowing Anjali was fully capable of following through her threats.

Aakash turned around only momentarily to check up on Arnavs pace taken completely by surprise, stopping dead in his tracks, causing Anjali to stop as well who was about to start with her warning stampede again until he pushed her in the direction he was looking both of them stunned at what they were witnessing.

Look into your heart - you will find
There's nothin' there to hide.

Arnav seemed to be juggling deciding wheather to act on his instincts or not as he stood in front of Khushi on a step lower than hers Vivek standing a little distance away from them, giving them their privacy, and finally making up his mind, he leaned in closer to her, and gave a small kiss on her cheeks, moving away only to see her surprised flushed expression, utterly pleased with himself to have listened and followed his instincts.

"I'll see you tonight then" He said suggestively, breaking her dazed state only mildly as she nodded the surprised look thoroughly embedded into her features, and he turned away grinning to himself, putting up his stoic face again seeing his two siblings gaping at him in shock.

"What? (Aakash and Anjali both shake their head) C'mon!" He growled edgily, walking away from both of them towards the car, as seeing no other choice they both followed still stupeifed by the idea of their little brother publicly displaying his affection for Khushi.

"Whoa! Things seemed to be going really really well with you two. What happened?" Vivek commented standing next to her shaking her by the shoulder, pulling her straight out of her shocked confused state, her eyes that had been wide as saucers dilating back to their original shape as she gave him a savage not now' look.

"You don't say (Vivek laughs) I...I.have no idea what was all that about..(to herself) is everything..really that well?" Khushi told him lost in her own internal musings so that she didn't realize that Vivek had heard what was actually meant to be a question to herself and not for him to hear.

"Don't be so troubled by it. Maybe he was..he just had a sudden whim to do it and he did it." Vivek suggested, tapping her shoulder to get her attention.

"Since when does he follow any crazy whims? That was my department last I checked" she countered, searching his face for an explanation for Arnav's out of character demonstration of public affection, but Vivek much to her astonishment didn't seem to find anything bizzardly wrong with it.

"Look Chun (Keeping his hands on her shoulders) maybe it is time he followed a crazy whim rather than think everything through. Things haven't..been uhh.particularly..great between you two..when he thinks more than he should" Vivek told her calmly, hesitating slightly at the dark expression of pain that had surfaced on her face, but vanished moments later, making him think that he probably just imagined it. When Khushi didn't reply and stared into blank space over his shoulder he had to shake her yet again, and comfortingly put his arm around her, her looking up into his face still with a confused troubled expression.

"Hey its fine alright. It was just a small peck on the cheek (Khushi turns crimson) no big deal alright? (A frown etching itself on Viveks face) Unless you are offended by it?" He questioned her, studying her changing tide of expressions curiously trying to decipher what exactly was going on in her mind. He was sure she wasn't offended, or atleast compared to the physical proximity she usually had with Arnav due to their dance practices combined with the fact that she had immense romantic feelings for him he thought she wouldn't be, but the Khushi he knew, the Khushi who was his best friend would be shell shocked by Arnav's open display of affection.

"No! No! I am not offended (Vivek grins, Khushi pokes her elbow into his ribs) No I mean it was fine I think but I..I am just confused.I am just ..just trying to understand why he did that..I mean well we only got into talking to eachother normally after a long time today..and well you know Raizada he doesn't act that quickly or anything...urrgghh he's just so confusing! (Vivek squeezes her shoulder good naturedly, Khushi's expression becomes incredibly serious) You don't think..he's doing this just to please me but his heart is really not into it? Do you?" Khushi asked Vivek skeptically her earlier fears rushing back to her, of how she never wanted somebody to do something for her even though they really had no heart in the gesture.

"Dude Chun, you know that's not true! C'mon, you know him better than I do, and we both can agree on the fact that Arnav isn't really the nicest kid around her to go out of his way to do something like that just for you alone without having any heart in it. (Khushi nods reluctantly) See? So that's sorted. Quit thinking about it now will you? (Khushi nods vaguely) Just.. to sate the wheels of logic churning in my brain, what exactly happened with you all day?" Vivek asked her now, fully attentive to the slightly glazed look in her eyes, like she was travelling back in time, Khushi fully aware of the hidden question underneath his actual question of why she was suddenly so happy; and before long, both of them walking towards the parking lot, Khushi related to him the talk between her and Arnav in the morning, the dance practice, and then with a rather irritated tone the talk with Sir Brendan and Vivek-Karan's part in it.

"Yeah well, it was in all of our best interests" Vivek answered her annoyed expression dismissively, looking away from her, as she training her gaze haughtily at him. She couldn't believe he hadn't let her in on the secret, well yes the secret was about her but what with the whole play cupid act? Come to think of it, now that she was clearly thinking, this was the Tu Mera Hero dance all over again. Except back then she was drunk, and right now, well, not so much. Or maybe she was, she mentally countered her thoughts, she was drunk on depression. Shaking her head to herself, while Vivek seemed to look off elsewhere, intent on avoiding her gaze, she racked her brains for his true purpose of being here, and suddenly like a wave of remembrance had washed past her she remembered that Vivek had come to talk to her about something.

"So whats your gig? Its Casey isn't it?" She asked much to his astonishment, craning his neck to look at her at such speed, she momentarily haunted herself with the idea that she heard one of his neck bones crack. Thankfully seeing his incredulous expression last for a formidable amount of time, now the question How did you know' almost on his lips, she decided letting out a breathe of relief she didn't even know she had been holding, that his neck was alright after all.

He wasn't sure why he was actually surprised with her putting two and two together, maybe because she hadn't done it in a while so he had assumed that ability of hers was lost somewhere. But it was evident if it was about him Khushi could intercept his motives, which is why it made it all the more harder concealing the truth from her. She could read him like an open book, and at that thought a pang of guilt and fierce pain consumed him again thinking of the secret he had been harbouring with him for so long, hiding it from her. No wonder it was such a burden, pressed so heavily on his conscience because he was hiding from her, and that pained him much more than knowing that this secret, this disease was happening to him. Breaking away from his train of thoughts seeing the worried expression on Khushi's face he smoothed his expression again concentrating on what he really was here to tell her.

"Yeah I mean..Its not what you think. She uhh needs my help with some creative department work (Khushi snorts at the word creative, still grinning cheekily at him) and she well invited me over to her place for that" He finished modestly, Khushi's already wide grin getting possibly even more wider as she gave him a half hug much to his surprise, him returning it back like it was second nature to him. And here she was minutes ago confused about Arnav's impulsive whims to demonstrate affection. Typical Chun.

"Okkkaaayy Chun Okayy..I mean I totally get it that hugging me gives an enormous sense of euphoria (Khushi draws away only slightly shooting daggers at him with her eyes) Okay..well maybe something lesser than complete bliss? (Khushi makes a face at him, rolling her eyes at him) But seriously its no what you think..I mean..its not a date." He said exasperatedly, half convinced that it was but he didn't want her to know that he had followed through her idea of pitching himself with Casey, well seriously with his condition, he couldn't do that, or, backtracking his thoughts a bit, could he now? The smug expression on Khushi's face confirmed as much, and he tried, key word being tried here, to make an uninterested face at her earning himself yet another hard punch on the shoulder, streaked with a flash of irritation coming on Khushi's face.

"Get off your high horse now punchy! Like C'mon you know it's a date, a study date? (Viveks gives her a non-commital look) You wouldn't come to tell me about it if you didn't think so too. (Vivek slightly blush) Did someone ever tell you, you look like an orangutan when you blush?" Khushi remarked cheekily, a flash of remembrance causing his features, his own lips curling up into that's my dialogue Chun! Not fair' look and she just shrugged still grinning at him with all her hamster teeth shining in the bright daylight.

"I just wanted to let you know, that I feel super duper lucky to have you as my best friend, I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful I feel about it now." He said joyfully, his eyes twinkling in delight, but hers were a shade of grey, a small smile on her face yet the puzzlement on it successfully over shadowing the smile.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! What got into you all of a sudden? Why are you being all George V takes over Britain as monarch? C'mon you don't need to tell me all that, I guess I pretty much know all of it already (blushing slightly) But anyways it good to hear it personally" she said modestly after some while, making a brief frown appear on his face.

"Chhhuuunnn..Dont blush yawr! Didn't anyone tell you look like an orangutan when you do that?" he commented on her cheekily, receiving a blood curling glare, and tight punches on his shoulder which he had very successfully ducked, holding her by both her wrists, both of them mad with laughter now, so that the angry tigress that she was would calm down.

Standing next to his classy white Mazda-2010, both grinned to themselves replaying that memory, which seemed light years ago now in light of everything that had recently happened. It will be fine, Khushi told herself, we will be fine, not aware that Vivek standing in front of her was assuring himself with exactly the same words. She turned her eyes away from him momentarily only to see her driver waving at her impatiently from their black SUV, sigmalling her to come so that they could go home. Ignoring him Khushi concentrated back on the issue at hand, noticing that Vivek too now was looking at her half crazed driver.

"Never mind him, he'll wait (Vivek snaps back to attention towards her) So watcha wearing for your date lover boy?" Khushi questioned him lightly, his expression demonstrating once again a cocktail of emotions, until it smoothed like an ingenious idea had suddenly clicked in his moment. Another one of his famous Eureka moments, Khushi remarked to herself fondly.

"Do I look like I know anything? (Khushi smirks, Vivek suddenly gets excited) Come home with me and help this handsome hunk charm the lady! (Khushi snorts, Vivek grins at her widely pleased with himself) I'll drop you back home in time for cranky ol Raizada" Vivek suggested, welcomed with a kick on his leg by her at his last statement and an instant nod much to his relief, as Khushi signaled to her already grumpy driver to leave who curtly nodded back, and opening up the front door to Viveks car she stepped in, while Vivek hopped into the driver's seat, powering the car up, Khushi making a quick call home to inform Aparna, as the two of them headed to the Mandvi's residence.

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Trooped inside their black SUV which payed tribute to the uniformity in the services by the armed forces, the three siblings sat quietly for a considerable amount of seconds, or perhaps micro seconds, both Aakash and Anjalis gazes fixated on their younger sibling, who was going out of his way to avoid them, which for that matter he did usually under normal circumstances which didn't involve him publicly kissing the girl he liked.

"Kiss on the cheek eh? Very Classic Chotte." Aakash commented craning his neck backward to look at Arnav as he was riding shot gun like always, Arnav looking out of the window with a pleased expression all signs of which were completely wiped out by Aakash's question not gracing it with an answer, a response that didn't surprise the siblings to the least, and only welcomed a whole bunch of annoying snickering from them. Seeing that Arnav wasn't really rewarding them with any inside scoop, they tried another method to pry information out of him, which was almost as difficult as interrogating a high profile criminal.

"So you two official now?" Anjali asked covertly, trying to keep a straight expression which was hard to maintain considering the amount of hilarity bursting inside her. It was one thing knowing that her Chotte was in love, it was completely different seeing him act like he was in love. Aakash gave her an approving nod in front still hanging precariously on the edge of the seat, much to the drivers annoyance who was having trouble applying the brakes,what with all of Aakash's body shadowing the brake.

"Do we have to be?" Arnav asked her back, facing his siblings now looking at them eye to eye, a silent challenge but more like an underlying urgency to his question the latter emotion going undetected by Aakash and Anjali, who were just gearing out of their surprise of actually being graced with an answer by his highness aka Chotte.

"So lets get this straight. You haven't proposed her yet? (Arnav shakes his head) WHAT? WHY?" Aakash burst out loud, almost causing the driver to slam the brakes, Aakash shooting a quick apologetic look at the driver, who was clearly pissed off at this point but couldn't make a snide comment because duty laws held him back, concentrating back on the road ahead, while Aakash his eyes blinking comically at Arnav, Anjali displaying an identical reaction unable to believe their brothers imprudence. Arnav on the other hand, vaguely prepared for this over exaggerated reaction, by his over dramatic siblings, drilled his sight back on to the scenery outside, like he use to every single day. There was something fascinating about taking in every detail of the world that spawned so limitlessly beyond your sight, observing and scrutinizing every minuscule detail no matter how many times you saw it, he had discovered, their was always something new to look at, bemusing him to the never ending power of mother nature.

Recovering from their initial shock of Arnav's proposal denial, communicating frantically with silent eye to eye contact Aakash and Anjali finally decided to try another approach to get Arnav talking breaking him free from his state of escapism.

"So how is it Arnav Singh Raizada aka Chotte to love a girl?" Aakash turned his body to face Arnav yet again, from his position on the front seat, feigning the voice of that of a skilled interviewer asking a prime question to his interviewee. Arnav gave one steely look at Aakash showing his irritation but decided to answer him anyway.

"I could ask you the same Bhai" Arnav said cooly, causing a faint blush to appear on Aakash's cheek after all this time with Aakash, secretly amusing Arnav, however he kept the stoic expression on his face intact. Aakash quickly recovered from his brief moment of speechlessness, forming a coherent answer now, meanwhile Anjali viewed the spectacle her two brothers were making of themselves from the sidelines.

"But you didn't. (Arnav scowls) So answer me now." Aakash quipped back still pressing Arnav for an answer, who after a haughty show for some unidentified reason, relented.

"Not bad." He said keeping his tone impassive, though the ghost of a smile, and the sparkling of his eyes said otherwise. Aakash took his non verbal cues as his real answer patting Arnav on the shoulder pleased with his answer, almost letting the seat belt dig into skin, and yelping in pain pushed back hurriedly into his normal position a faint smirk appearing on the drivers face at this.

"Superb answer. 100 point to Gryffindor!" Aakash announced, in a majestic voice, earning a non committed expression from Arnav, who was well deeply amazed by his brothers quick wittedness to crack a Harry Potter joke. Trust him with that. Meanwhile Anjali sitting next to Arnav in the back seat, was not so happy with his answer.

"200 point from smart mouth Ravenclaw! (Aakash glares at her.) And Chotte that's the best answer you could come up with? Not bad? Its like someone forced you into the act of loving her!" Anjali remarked hotly, aiming a you can do better than that' look at Arnav who merrily shrugged and ignored her altogether while Aakash took it upon him to reply back to her on behalf of both Arnav and him.

"Sheesh Anji! Why are you so touchy? Had a fight with your blackie?" Aakash teased, his spirits soaring, receiving his usual doze of death glares and scowls from Anjali.

"How very racist of you Aakash." Anjali replied coldly, rolling her eyes, making a last strangling expression at him, at which Aakash only guffawed only louder, his spirits rising even higher if that was possible, until the car came to a stop in front of their dome shaped house, and Anjali stepped out stomping up the stairs clearly in a terrible mood, closing the door behind her shut as she walked in, Arnav and Aakash trailing behind, Arnav maintaining his uninterested with life look, while Aakash grinned to himself unlocking the door with his key, in full mood to go on with teasing Anjali, disappointed slightly to see that she had disappeared inside her room. Turning his attention to Arnav as his nearest victim, who was quick to make his way into his room without a word and disappear inside his washroom well aware that he would be Aakash's next victim, leaving behind his older brother to sigh to himself,him too dissolving inside his room with no one else to target.

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